Something About Ezekiel 1

Jenni wants to know what's going on in Ezekiel 1:4-28. Let's see if we can't help her . . .

We need to wrap our minds around the style of many of the prophets. They use what's called “apocalyptic literature.” At first, to us, Westerners, it's all a bit overwhelming and doesn't make much sense. But, once we've been given the key, unlocking it is a bit easier . . .

“Apocalyptic literature” is highly dramatized, quite vivid, “out-of-this-world,” chaotic, etc. But, the literature reflects a very real, historical situation, so we need to know the background of Ezekiel, the context of Ezekiel, if we're to make much sense of the imagery. So, let's just get a quick idea of what's going on in his “world.”

The whole book begins with Ezekiel's “call” as a prophet – he was 30 years old when God grabbed him to do work (1:1). But, it was the “fifth year” of Jehoiachin's exile (1:3) – this would put us around 592 B.C. So – and this is critical – this is AFTER the first (606 B.C.) and second (596 B.C.) invasions from Babylon but BEFORE the final invasion and destruction of Solomon's temple (586 B.C.).

So, Ezekiel has this “apocalyptic vision” that details some things “right out of the gate” with his prophetic ministry. What does it all mean?

The whole picture of God's “war wagon” or “war chariot” is a picture of His JUDGMENT. He's going to judge the wicked that have abused and ravaged God's people. Sure, the wicked are “within” God's own people, Judah. (And, later on, He'll judge the wicked in Babylon – and elsewhere, too!) But, that's part of it. God hasn't based who is “right” or “wrong” on an ethnic or national basis – one can still be “Jewish” and be a son of Satan, so said the Master (see John 8:31-59; cf. Rom. 2:17ff.). And, Paul insisted that the the real “Jew” in God's eyes wasn't just a physical, ethnic, national Jew – He was a physical Jew who “lived by faith” (cf. Rom. 9:6-8).

So, in spite of all of the difficult, Old Testament imagery, involving cherubim, the ark of the covenant, the legs, the wings, the wheels, the eyes, the directions, etc. – it all suggests something about the power (the sovereignty) of God. It's a complex picture but – in relation to His forthcoming judgment – it insists that He is 1) really committed to His “covenant” with His people – they've broken it – He hasn't! (see 1:28's picture), 2) that He is omniscient, all-knowing – that's the point of “the eyes,” 3) that He is omnipotent, all-powerful – that's the point of the multi-directional “wheels” on the chariot.

So, let's tie it all up . . .

The whole picture is in relation to the pending and upcoming judgment in 586 B.C. God is 1) faithful, 2) aware and 3) powerful. But, at the very end of this chaotic picture, we have God giving the image of the “rainbow,” so even when things look bleak, He's where He's always been: lovingly-committed to the whole human family (see 1:28 – the “rainbow” evokes His promise to Noah and all of humanity).

Here it is: God is where He's always been, and even when He “comes in judgment,” He's doing it because He really does know what's best for humanity. Sometimes, we need things to humble us, point us to God and “crisis” does this in ways that luxury and health-and-wealth never could.

Read Psalm 119:71, Isaiah 54:7,8, Jeremiah 30:11 and 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 and 12:7-10 against this backdrop and see if God's forthcoming “judgment” in “Ezekiel” doesn't make sense. And, see if it doesn't make sense in our world and lives, now, too.